Greek parties fail in coalition bid

Greek conservative leader Antonis Samaras, whose party came first in last weekend’s elections that produced a hung parliament, has not reached an agreement for a coalition government with the head of the runner-up Radical Left Coalition.

Mr Samaras said he explained to Radical Left leader Alexis Tsipras that his demands for Greece to reject the country’s international bailout deal would lead Greece into bankruptcy.

Mr Samaras reiterated that he was prepared to even back a minority government on condition that the country remain in the euro.

The conservative leader said Mr Tsipras’ demands meant he was asking Samaras “to accept Greece’s exit from the euro and the country’s bankruptcy. I will not do that”.